Schools loosen dress codes that targeted girls

(19 Sep 2018) AT ALAMEDA HIGH SCHOOL, STUDENTS CAN WEAR ALMOST ANYTHING THEY WANT NOW - AS LONG AS CERTAIN BODY PARTS ARE COVERED.
RIPPED JEANS, TUBE TOPS, SHORT SHORTS AND MIDRIFF-BARING SHIRTS ARE NOW ACCEPTABLE FOR SCHOOL IN THIS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CITY.
ALAMEDA IS THE LATEST SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADOPT A MORE PERMISSIVE DRESS CODE AFTER STUDENTS COMPLAINED THE OLD RULES UNFAIRLY TARGETED GIRLS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Susan Davis, Alameda Unified School District Spokeswoman
"Girls were being pulled out of class more often than boys, which raises issues about equity in terms of access to the classroom. And they also were saying that when they were having teachers or office staff comment on their clothing or measure their bodies or their clothing that it was humiliating for them."
FRESHMEN KRISTEN WONG AND HENRY MILLS PUSHED FOR THE CHANGE AFTER SEEING THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSMATES SHAMED AND PUNISHED FOR WHAT THEY WERE WEARING.
SOUNDBITE (English) Kristin Wong, Alameda High School freshman
"We really wanted to make it equitable for all genders and between to have the same dress code that would apply to the same set of students."
SOUNDBITE (English) Henry Mills, Alameda High School freshman
"I wouldn't say it's distracting. Personally no, I haven't seen any of my friends. 'Oh did you see what she or he was wearing?' ... This is a healthier dress code, and it's benefiting a lot of people."
BUT SOME THINK THE LOOSER DRESS CODE IS MISGUIDED.
SOUNDBITE (English) Marie Hsu, Alameda parent and teacher
"I teach middle school and I see the kids coming with spaghetti straps and midriffs and it frankly breaks my heart."
HSU AGREES STUDENTS SHOULDN'T BE PUNISHED FOR BEING DISTRACTIONS, BUT SOME GIRLS NOW FEEL MORE PRESSURE TO LOOK SEXY.
SOUNDBITE (English) Marie Hsu, Alameda parent and teacher
"If all of the messages around them are telling them that they're supposed to sex it up, that's what they think is most important, and that that strips them of everything else that they are."
PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADOPTED A SIMILAR POLICY TWO YEARS AGO AFTER STUDENTS COMPLAINED THE OLD DRESS CODE WAS SEXIST.
GRANT HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CAROL CAMPBELL SAYS THE STAFF CAN NOW FOCUS ON TEACHING - NOT ON WHAT STUDENTS ARE WEARING.
SOUNDBITE (English) Carol Campbell, Grant High School Principal
"We were spending time paying attention to, 'Is this too short? Is this too revealing? ... The policies that we had in place were actually making students feel unsafe and judged. So I think that having that gone has really changed the culture."
THE ALAMEDA SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL ASSESS HOW ITS CULTURE HAS CHANGED WHEN IT REVISITS THE DRESS CODE NEXT SPRING.
TERRY CHEA, ASSOCIATED PRESS, ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA

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